What is Yoga?

"Yoga" is the Sanskrit word for YOKE; the knowing that we are all One with the Everything That IS, each other and all other living things. It is an eight fold path (called '8 Limbs') to ultimate enlightenment and the living of a life of infinite possibilities, grace, peace, love and balance.

The practice of Yoga (one of the 8 Limbs) is termed 'asana'; meaning, exercise, postures or poses. A n 'asana' session or practice is a series of active poses that are specific in their benefit to the human being: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

More than 2000 years ago, saint and philosopher Patanjali assembled into one text the 4000+ years old principals of Yoga, called 'yoga sutras'. These yoga sutras are timeless and multicultural and intended as a path by which to live a blissful life by improving each individual's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well being. The 8 Limbs of Yoga are listed on the reverse of this card.

The 8 Limbs of Yoga

Yama: individual ethical standards & behaviors
non-violence, non-covetousness, non-stealing, responsibility, truthfulness
Niyama: internal view of self
surrender to Higher Consciousness, release control, acceptance, cleanliness and purity of body & thoughts, study of self through reflection, respect of self & others
Asana: physical practice of yoga postures
Pranayama: control of the breath. Through control of the breath we learn control of the body, The mind and the emotions.
Pratyahara: to transcend the physical senses to greater awareness of our inner world. Change happens from within first.
Dharana: increased concentration to opening the awareness further. Giving up all that may Influence our every moment experience.
Dhyana: meditation. Beyond concentration to the state of Total Awareness. Being able to keep the concentration while being aware ofall that is around us and within us.
Samadhi: transcendence of the self to the True Self. It is the union of self with all living things. It is the realization that everything Is of the same substance & all is connected.